Treating periodontal disease within three months of a procedure to correct the irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AFib) may reduce inflammation in the oral cavity and reduce AFib recurrence, a study shows. This is revealed in a new study published in the journal Today. American Heart Association Journal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately half of U.S. adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal or periodontal disease, and the prevalence increases with age.

This study is one of the first to investigate the potential impact of periodontal treatment on atrial fibrillation. AFib is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly, increasing one’s risk of stroke five times. More than 12 million people in the United States are expected to have AFib by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

“Periodontal disease can be improved by dental intervention. Appropriate management of periodontal disease appears to improve the prognosis of atrial fibrillation, and many people around the world may benefit from it.” ” said study lead author Shunsuke Miyauchi, MD. He is an assistant professor at the Hiroshima University Health Service Center in Japan, where he focuses on general cardiology, arrhythmia care and research.

Researchers studied 97 patients who underwent a nonsurgical procedure (radiofrequency catheter ablation) to correct AFib and were treated for gingival inflammation, and 191 ablation patients who were not treated for periodontal disease. A follow-up investigation was conducted. Catheter ablation is a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to destroy small areas of heart tissue, causing rapid and irregular heartbeats. The study found that a measure of the severity of gingival inflammation was associated with AFib recurrence.

During an average follow-up period of 8.5 months to 2 years after the ablation procedure, researchers found that:

• Atrial fibrillation recurred in 24% of all participants throughout the follow-up period.
• Patients with severe gingival inflammation who were treated after cardiac catheter ablation were 61% less likely to have AFib recurrence compared to ablation patients who did not receive treatment for severe gingival inflammation.
• Patients whose AFib recurred had more severe periodontal disease than those who did not.
• Having periodontal disease, being female, experiencing an arrhythmia for more than 2 years, and left atrial volume were predictive of AF recurrence. Left atrial volume includes connective tissue thickening and scarring, which often leads to recurrence of atrial fibrillation, Miyauchi explained.

Professor Miyauchi said: “Although the main findings were in line with their expectations, we are surprised at how useful a quantitative indicator of periodontal disease, known as periodontal inflammatory surface area (PISA), is in cardiovascular clinical practice. I was surprised,” he said.

Although the American Heart Association does not recognize oral health as a risk factor for heart disease, it does recognize that oral health can be an indicator of overall health and well-being. Bacteria from inflamed teeth and gums can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the heart and brain. Chronic gum inflammation can be linked to other systemic health conditions, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Research details and background:

• A total of 288 adults (66% men, 34% women) receiving treatment for AFib were enrolled in this study.
• This single-center study was conducted at Hiroshima University Hospital in Hiroshima, Japan, from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022, and all participants were Asian.
• Participants were examined by a dentist before undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

“We are currently undertaking further research to uncover the mechanisms underlying the relationship between periodontal disease and atrial fibrillation,” Miyauchi said.

This study has the following limitations. The number of patients enrolled from a single institution is small. Patients were not randomized to receive dental treatment. For participants who did not receive periodontal treatment, follow-up examinations of periodontal status were not performed after the initial examination. and inflammatory markers were not reassessed after the ablation procedure.